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enSPL Wrap: St Mirren survival hopes diminishStMirrens chances of escaping relegation from the Scottish Premiership were further diminished on Saturday as they fell to a 2-0 defeat atStJohnstone.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-st-mirren-hopes-diminish-celtic-move-clear
Having seen 11th-placeMotherwell thrashHamilton Academical 4-0 on Friday, a win atMcDiarmid Park becameall the more pressing forGary Teale's men.
However,Brian Graham opened the scoring shortly after the half-hour mark withSteven Anderson's second-half header sealingthe points as the hosts returned fifth.
Ross County's 2-1 win against Kilmarnock puts them seven points clear of StMirren with Michael Gardyne and Craig Curran on target before the hour - Lee Ashcroft netting a consolation for the visitors.
A strong first-half display from Celtic saw the champions get back to winning ways in the Premiership against Dundee United.
Ronny Deila's men had not played in the league since the loss to StJohnstone on March 4,but first-half goals from Gary Mackay-Steven, John Guidetti and Jason Denayer took Celtic five points clear at the top.
Their closest challengers Aberdeen were held 1-1 at Dundee - Stephen McGinn cancelling out Adam Rooney's opener - while Partick Thistle left it late to beatInverness Caledonian Thistle.
Steven Lawless tucked home the only goalas Partickwon back-to-back league games for the first time since promotion to the Premiership.
news_articleSat, 21 Mar 2015 17:38:24 +0000364623 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Partick boost survival hopesPartick Thistle boosted their hopes of Scottish Premiership survival with an early blitz to set up a 3-0 win againstSt Johnstone on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-partick-improve-hopes-survival
Kris Doolan and Conrad Balatoni scored two headers in the opening nine minutes to give Alan Archibald's men complete control.
Stuart Bannigan's long-range effort then made sure of the points midway through the second half,as Thistle moved nine points clear of the bottom two.
St Mirren,meanwhile,remain rooted to the foot of the table as substitute Lee Miller's late strike for Kilmarnock inflicted another damaging defeat.
The striker swept homeJosh Magennis'square ball just three minutes from time to prevent St Mirren climbing above Motherwell on goal difference.
The resultextendedGary Locke's side's unbeaten run to seven league matches.
Hamilton's winless sequence now stands at 10 matches, after they squandered a two-goal advantage to draw 2-2against Ross County.
Jason Scotland and Dougie Imrie put the hosts two up inside18 minutes, butCraig Curran pulled one back before the break andMichael Gardyne equalised in the 71st minute.
news_articleSat, 14 Mar 2015 17:37:29 +0000360501 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Inverness slip up as strugglers prosperInverness Caledonian Thistle failed to close in on the leaders as they lost 2-1 to the Scottish Premierships bottom club Motherwell.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-inverness-slip-strugglers-prosper
Top two Celtic and Aberdeen are in action on Sunday, but Inverness, who are seven points off top spot and four behind the latter team, stumbled as the form book was torn up at Fir Park.
Louis Laing capped a fine team move in the 48th minute to give Motherwell hope of ending an eight-game winless run.
Inverness were unwilling to give up their 10-match unbeaten streak in 2015 without a fight and Edward Ofere headed home Graeme Shinnie's measured cross with 14 minutes to play.
But substitute Lionel Ainsworth fired an 84th-minute winner before a second yellow card for Simon Ramsden left the hosts to close out victory with 10 men.
Motherwell remain at the foot of the table, level on points with fellow strugglers and Saturday victors Ross County and St Mirren.
Jamie Reckord converted Michael Gardyne's pass as County's resurgence continued with a third straight win - 1-0 over Dundee.
St Mirren recorded a maidenhome triumph of the campaign by the same margin thanks to Steven Thompson's 63rd-minute strike, which prolonged Hamilton Academical's recent slump.
Partick Thistle secured a first Premiership win in seven attempts thanks to Stephen O'Donnell and a Jaroslaw Fojut own-goal before half time at fourth-placed Dundee United.
Elsewhere, St Johnstone and Kilmarnock shared a goalless draw.
news_articleSat, 28 Feb 2015 18:02:33 +0000352551 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Aberdeen go level with CelticAberdeen once again moved level with Scottish Premiership pacesetters Celtic after a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling StMirren on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-aberdeen-go-level-celtic
Adam Rooney got the hosts up and running after 21 minutes at Pittodrie, firing in from close range after a good delivery courtesy of Andrew Considine.
And the Irish forward doubled his tally for the day just after the break, pouncing on a loose ball, turning and finishing from inside the area totakehis record to 13 for the season.
Mark Reynolds wrapped things up just after the hour mark, moving Aberdeen level on 57 points with Celtic, who have two games in hand and face Hamilton on Sunday.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle lost further ground on the top two after being heldto a 3-3 draw at home to Kilmarnock.
The hosts took the lead three times over the course of the match, with Graeme Shinnie, Nick Ross and Danny Williams each finding the net.
But each time the visitors fought back, with goals from Nathan Eccleston, Craig Slater and Tope Obadeyi securing a draw for Kilmarnock.
The result leavesInverness five points behind Celtic and Aberdeen in third.
At the wrong end of the table, Ross County moved themselves off the bottom after beating hosts Partick Thistle 3-1, their second win in succession.
Motherwell took County's spot in last place as they lost 1-0 at home to Dundee, who retained their status in the top six.
StJohnstone remain hard on Dundee's heels, though, with a 2-0 win at Dundee United thanks to a Michael O'Halloran brace keeping them just two points behind.
news_articleSat, 21 Feb 2015 18:56:59 +0000348305 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Celtic march on, Caley continue chaseCeltic won 2-1 at St Johnstone on Saturday to open up a six-point advantage at the Scottish Premiership summit.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-celtic-march-inverness-continue-chase
Striker Leigh Griffiths got the defending champions off to a flying start as he caught the home defence cold to convert Nir Bitton's throughball inside the first minute.
Stefan Johansen finished coolly to double Celtic's advantage seven minutes into the second half, but Michael O'Halloran reduced the arrears and only a brilliant Craig Gordon save from Dave MacKay prevented St Johnstone from snatching a point.
The win is Celtic's eighth consecutive victory in all competitions since the turn of the year and turns up the pressure on nearest challengers Aberdeen, who travel to Hamilton on Sunday.
Inverness Caledonian Thistletriumphed by the same scoreline at struggling St Mirren to go level on points with Aberdeen.
Graeme Shinnie set up Greg Tansey to open the scoring in the third minute and Ryan Christie picked out the bottom corner to make it 2-0 with an hour played.
Jim Goodwin headed in to give St Mirren hope but Gary Teale's team are three points off the foot of the table after bottom two Ross County and Motherwell shared a 3-2 thriller, with the hosts coming out on top at Dingwall.
A superb Martin Woods volley gave County a half-time lead but Conor Grant converted a free-kick to bring 11th-placed Motherwell level.
Emphatic finishes from Paul Quinn and Raffaele De Vita set Ross County on course for a second home win of the season -a result they would close out despite Fraser Kerr's 78th-minute header.
SamClingan netted instoppage-time to give Kilmarnock a 3-2 win and end Dundee United's unbeaten start to 2015, while the latter team's near neighbours Dundee overcame Partick Thistle 1-0 thanks to Paul McGowan's own last-gasp winner.
news_articleSat, 14 Feb 2015 17:55:52 +0000343847 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comVilla scores as New York City kick off with winOver 3,000 miles from home, 864 days since they were founded and after one of Major League Soccers most controversial transfers, New York City finally kicked into action with a win.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/villa-scores-new-york-city-kick-win
New York will call the world-famous Yankee Stadium their home in MLS next season, but began life at the City Football Academy, in the shadow of sister club Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.
A healthy crowd turned out to witness the franchise's on-pitch birth, including an occasionally boisterous bunch who had travelled from north of the border to cheer on St Mirren, while over 3,000 tuned in via New York's YouTube account.
David Villa will captain the side this season and Spain's record goalscorer secured his place in the history books by scoring his new side's first goal during a 45-minute cameo before his half-time replacement, Tony Taylor, grabbed New York's second as a team made up largely of replacements were equally impressive.
Jason Kreis - shorn of another star signing Frank Lampard after he opted to prolong his Premier League sojourn with New York's big sister - will have been relieved to finally turn his attentions to game time, admitting after the match his squad had had "maximum 15 training sessions" as a group.
An MLS Cup winner from his time with Real Salt Lake, Kreis outlined his attention to bring attractive football in an attempt to spark a new sporting giant in the home city of theKnicks and Yankees, a plan which appeared to be bearing fruit in an impressive display.
After going close twice early on, it was little surprise to see Villa score New York's maiden goal just after the half-hour – the World Cup winner finishing calmly after left-back Chris Wingert's fizzing cross was not dealt with.
A raft of substitutions at the interval and into the second period did little to stem New York's dominance built on possession, but a more direct approach led to their second as a long hook upfield released Taylor and the number 99 powered his finish home.
Having tasted success at the first time of asking, New York continue their preparations with another fixture against Danish side Brondby on Sunday before they head back Stateside to prepare for their MLS bow against fellow league newboys, Kaka's Orlando City on March 8.
news_articleTue, 10 Feb 2015 21:49:18 +0000341293 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL: Partick Thistle 0 St Mirren 1James Dayton netted a debut winner as St Mirren beat Partick Thistle 1-0 to climb out of the Scottish Premiership relegation zone.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/partick-thistle-0-st-mirren-1-debutant-dayton-hero
On-loan Oldham Athletic winger Dayton drove a shot into the bottom corner with six minutes played as the hosts failed to clear a corner at Firhill.
Ryan Stevenson was inches away from heading Partick level from Callum Booth's cross and they would press persistently after the interval.
But Alan Archibald's team, who had scored seven goals in their previous two outings, struggled to create clear openings as St Mirren belatedly closed out their maiden clean sheet of the season and marked the first match since manager Gary Teale's extended appointment until the end of the campaign with victory.
St Mirren are now 10th, a place below Partick, but they have played two games more than Motherwell in 11th, while bottom club Ross County have three matches in hand and are seven points behind Teale's men.
news_articleFri, 30 Jan 2015 22:56:11 +0000334236 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Celtic stretch lead at Ross CountyKris Commons scored the only goal as Celtic beat Ross County 1-0 to open up a three-point lead at the Scottish Premiership summit.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-celtic-stretch-lead-inverness-and-dundee-united-keep-chase
Nearest rivals Aberdeen were held to a 1-1 draw at St Johnstone on Friday,but Celtic endured a frustrating goalless first half against the top flight's bottom side as they looked to capitalise.
Commons broke the deadlock via a deflected 52nd-minute strike before Ronny Deila's team closed out a victory that put them out in front with a game in hand.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dundee United kept up their pursuit of the top two with respective wins over Hamilton Academical and Motherwell.
Third-placed Inverness condemned their opponents to a fourth consecutive league loss as player-manager Martin Canning endured a tough afternoon following official confirmation of his appointment at Hamilton.
Grant Gillespie put through his own goal in the 53rd minute and Nick Ross sealed a 2-0 win inside the final quarter of an hour.
Motherwell were beaten for a fifth time this month as fourth-place Dundee United triumphed 3-1 at Tannadice.
Charlie Telfer opened the scoring after the hour and Jaroslaw Fojut headed home to double United's advantage.
Simon Ramsdennetted a volley to haul Motherwell back into the match but Telfer notchedhis second from the edge of the box in added time.
United's city rivals Dundee came from behind to beat second-bottom St Mirren 2-1, while Kilmarnock and Partick Thistle shared a 2-2 draw.
news_articleSat, 24 Jan 2015 18:34:24 +0000330274 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Four-goal Celtic storm to the summitMikael Lustig struck twice late on as Celtic took the lead in the Scottish Premiership title race with a 4-0 win over Motherwell.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-celtic-storm-summit-doolan-stars-partick
Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring on 26 minutes and Leigh Griffiths doubled the home side's advantage before the interval.
Substitute Mikael Lustigthen scored a late brace with a left-foot shot and a header to send Celtic a point clear of Aberdeen, having still played a game less.
Meanwhile,Kris Doolan was the toast of Partick Thistle after netting four times in their 5-0 demolition of Hamilton at Firhill.
The striker produced a clinical display of close-range finishing to strike with both feet and his head before Nathan Eccleston completed the rout in the closing stages.
Fourth-placed Dundee United had to come from behind to secure a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw at St Mirren, with Stuart Armstrong levelling after Kenny McLean had broken the deadlock with a superb finish.
A Greg Stewart penalty proved enough to give Dundee a 1-0 victory against Kilmarnock at Dens Park after Lee Ashcroft had brought down Jim McAlister after19 minutes.
news_articleWed, 21 Jan 2015 22:52:26 +0000328543 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Celtic return with win, leaders drawCeltic closed the gap at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win at Hamilton and leaders Aberdeen grabbed a 3-3 draw with Dundee.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-celtic-return-win-leaders-battle-draw
Celtic returned from their mid-season stint in the sun to close the gap to Scottish Premiership leaders Aberdeen with a 2-0 win at Hamilton Academical.
Ronny Deila's champions are now two points behind Aberdeen with as many games in hand following their warm-weather training break in Gran Canaria.
Adam Matthews got the better of Hamilton goalkeeper Michael McGovern at the near post to give Celtic a 33rd-minute lead and Liam Henderson sealed the points five minutes after half-time.
Aberdeen were forced to produce a stunning late comeback to earn a 3-3 draw at home to Dundee.
David Goodwillie put the Pittodrie outfit ahead after seven minutes but two goals in three minutes from Gary Irvine and Greg Stewart meant the visitors held a 2-1 half-time advantage.
Gary Harkins' brilliant volley made it 3-1 - a scoreline that remained until Kostadin Gadzhalov brought down Lawrence Shankland for Jonny Hayes to net an 87th-minute penalty and Ryan Jack secured a dramatic share of the spoils in stoppage time.
At the other end of the table, 10-man St Mirren struck late on to claim a vital 2-1 win over basement boys Ross County.
Sean Kelly put second-bottom St Mirren ahead but Yoann Arquin - who signed this week after his County contract expired on January 2- was sent off for a rash challenge on Lewis Toshney before half-time.
County could not make their man advantage count until Liam Boyce headed them level in the 82nd minute but Stephen Mallan netted the winner five minutes later.
Goals from Dave Mackay and Steven Anderson gave St Johnstone a 2-0 win over Patrick Thistle.
Structural damage at Fir Park meant Motherwell's match with Kilmarnock was postponed on Friday and a frozen pitch saw the meeting between third-place Dundee United and fourth-place Inverness Caledonian Thistle suffer the same fate.
news_articleSat, 17 Jan 2015 18:08:47 +0000325989 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Aberdeen stretch lead at topAberdeen extended their advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership as a quickfire first-half double sunk bottom club St Mirren.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-aberdeen-stretch-lead-celtics-absence-dundee-thrash-motherwell
Celtic's decision to request a postponement for this weekend's scheduled fixture versus St Johnstone gave Derek McInnes'team a chance to steal a march on the champions.
St Mirren made it tough going for them during the opening exchanges before home goalkeeper MarkRidgers misjudged a Niall McGinn cross that found a way home to give Aberdeen a fortuitous 31st-minute advantage.
Shay Logan doubled the lead two minutes later, securing a 2-0 win and a four-point lead over Celtic, who now have two games in hand.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle are a point further back in thirdafter Billy McKay's double secured a 2-1 comeback win at Kilmarnock.
John Hughes'team were forced to record a third consecutive victory the hard way after DavidRaven was sent off for a foul on Josh Magennis that gave Kilmarnock a 47th-minute penalty.
Alexei Eremenko duly converted but McKay fired Inverness level six minutes later and decisivelystruck again with nine minutes to play.
Dundee ended a run of six games without a win by beating struggling Motherwell 4-1.
Alex Harris and Greg Stewart had the hosts two goals to the good after eight minutes and, although John Sutton prodded home a reply, Gary Irvine restored his team's cushion before half-time.
Motherwell had Henrik Ojamaa sent off after appearing to elbow Kevin Thompson and Mark O'Brien's 70th-minute own goal completed their misery.
The match between 11th-placed Ross County and Partick Thistle in ninth was postponed as a result of a power failure at the Global Energy Stadium.
news_articleSat, 10 Jan 2015 18:00:34 +0000321423 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Rooney double fires Aberdeen clearAberdeen moved four points clear of Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 win over Motherwell on Sunday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-rooney-double-fires-aberdeen-clear
Derek McInnes' side hit the top spot on New Year's Day with a victory againstStJohnstone, and an Adam Rooney double ensured they will stay there no matter what Celtic do on Monday against Kilmarnock.
The 26-year-oldstruck the opener after 36 minutes at Fir Parkand he completed the win from the penalty spot after Stephen McManus had been sent off with two minutes to play.
Hamilton lifted themselves into third place thanks to Anthony Andreu's 12th goal of the season against 10-man StJohnstone.
The Frenchmanfired past Alan Mannus 11 minutes before half-time to secure all three points for Alex Neil's side, and move them above Dundee United.
StJohnstone remain in sixth place, but they will be without James McFadden for their next match after the 31-year-oldreceived a late red card for a second bookable offence.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle climbed towithin a point of second-placed Celtic thanks to a 1-0 win over StMirren, Billy Mckay grabbing the winner after 77 minutes.
Gary Mackay-Steven opened the scoring for Dundee United in their clash with Partick Thistle at the Firhill Stadium, butgoals from Ryan Stevenson and Kris Doolan fired Thistle ahead at the break.
However, they were denied the win as Nafti Ciftcistruck his ninth of the campaign with 17 minutes remaining to earn a point.
Meanwhile, United's city rivals Dundee were held to a 1-1 draw by Ross County courtesy ofCraig Curran's 65th-minute strike, the visitors fighting back with 10-men after Terry Dunfield's early red card.
news_articleSun, 04 Jan 2015 17:53:11 +0000317622 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Aberdeen go top as Celtic rained offAberdeen climbed to the top of the Scottish Premiership with a 2-0 New Years Day victory over St Johnstone.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-aberdeen-go-top-celtic-rained
Leaders Celtic's game at Partick Thistle was called off due to a waterlogged pitch early on Thursday, presenting Derek McInnes' men with the chance to reach the summit.
And it was an opportunity they grabbed with both hands, as David Goodwillie gave the home side a sixth-minute lead with an overhead kick at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen looked the better team throughout, but it was not until Cammy Smith found the net in the 90th minute that they could be sure of maximum points.
The result - Aberdeen's sixth win in a row - lifts them a point clear of Celtic, who now have a game in hand.
Dundee United are three points short of Aberdeen following a thumping 6-2 demolition of city rivals Dundee.
Stuart Armstrong's fortuitous opener set the tone for the rest of the match, with United goingin 4-1 up at the interval.
The home side's relentless onslaught continued into the second half with goals from Jaroslaw Fojut and Charlie Telfer, before Luka Tankulic netted a late consolation.
It was goals galore at New Douglas Park, too, where Hamilton Academical cruised to a 5-0 victory over Motherwell.
Following their disappointing defeat to Kilmarnock last time out, the Premiership's fourth-placed side responded in emphatic fashion courtesy of five different goalscorers.
Having ended their seven-match winless run against Hamilton on Saturday, Kilmarnock made it back-to-back victories with a 2-1 triumphat St Mirren.
Defeat for the hosts leaves them one pointclear of the relegation position currently occupied by Ross County, who were comfortably beaten3-1 at home by Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
news_articleThu, 01 Jan 2015 17:48:49 +0000315625 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Champions Celtic held to shock drawDundee United and Hamilton Academical failed to take advantage of a surprise slip-up from Celtic in Saturdays Scottish Premiership action.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-celtic-held-shock-draw-rivals-fail-capitalise
Defending champions Celtic were held to a goalless draw at home to Ross County, who nevertheless slipped to the foot of the table.
Substitute Callum McGregor came closest to breaking the deadlockfor a Cetlic side hampered by an early injury to Anthony Stokes.
McGregor struck the crossbar with a chip, although a resolute County had chances of their own and also hit the woodwork late on through Filip Kiss.
Despite unexpectedly dropping points, Celtic were able to stretch their lead at the top to five points thanks to results elsewhere.
Second-placed Dundee United threw away a lead to lose 2-1 at St Johnstone, while Hamilton, who are fourth, went down1-0 at Kilmarnock.
United looked set for victory at McDiarmid Park courtesy of Calum Butcher's 43rd-minute strike.
However, Michael O'Halloran levelledand St Johnstone then grabbed awinner through Chris Millar with four minutes remaining.
There was also late drama at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock securing victory in injury time when substitute Alexei Eremenko found the netwith a free-kick.
Kenny McLean scored twice as St Mirren moved aboveRoss County and into 11th with a 3-1 win at Dundee, who had Paul McGinn sent off.
Motherwell made it two wins out of two under Ian Baraclough asJohn Sutton's early penalty earned a 1-0 triumph over Partick Thistle.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Aberdeen meet in Sunday's solitary match, with both sides able to move up to second.
news_articleSat, 27 Dec 2014 18:20:39 +0000312627 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSPL Wrap: Aberdeen wins lifts them to secondAberdeen moved up to second in the Scottish Premiership with a hard-fought 1-0 win over struggling Kilmarnock at Pittodrie.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/scottish-premiership-review-aberdeen-move-second-st-mirren-misery-continues
David Goodwillie was denied by the crossbar early on in what proved to be a tightly contested first half.
The home side increased the pressure after the break though, and had thebreakthrough in the 69th minutewhen Peter Pawlett pounced on Jonny Hayes's rebounded effort.
Derek McInnes' side secured asixth victory in seven games to close within four points of Celtic, while Kilmarnock's winless run now stands at eight matches.
Third-placed Hamilton Academical recorded a 1-0 win of their own away to Ross County.
A fast-paced start from the visitors saw Martin Canning leap highest to power home a header from Ali Crawford's corner.
The hosts could have salvaged something late on but Martin Woods and Rocco Quinn both spurned opportunities, extending their winless run to four games.
Elsewhere, Brian Graham's 62nd minute penalty was enough to seal a 1-0 win for St Johnstone at home to 10-man Inverness Caledonian Thistle, who sawRoss Draper was given his marching orders for catching Simon Lappin with a stray elbow.
St Mirrenalso had to play with 10 men, Steven Thompson's first-half dismissal hampering them as they went down 1-0 to Motherwell.
The only game on Saturday not to end 1-0 was the 1-1 draw between Partick Thistle and Dundee at Firhill.
news_articleSat, 20 Dec 2014 19:38:25 +0000308696 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com